Chapter 131

Monday, July 26, 2004

0900 EST

JAG Headquarters

Falls Church, Virginia

AJ, upset with what Krystal and Krista had been through the day before, had sent for Mac and Bud that morning. He vowed he would make someone pay for the treatment of the twins, if not their father then the Commanding Officer of the base where the beatings would have occurred.

Mac and Bud arrived and he had them take a seat. "I have something I want you both to check into. It would have happened about nineteen years ago in Japan. If there is anyway possible I would like this kept quiet until we decide what actions can be taken."

"What are we looking into that happened so long ago?" Mac asked waiting for her CO to hand her a file.

"The beating, emotional and sexual abuse of my wife and her twin sister. I trust you both can keep this quite in case nothing should come from this investigation? Their father who committed the abuse is deceased. I'm going after the base CO at the time. His name was Captain Raymond Davis. Check out the hospital and Davis and report back to me. That will be all."

Meanwhile on the other side of town, Krystal picked Kris up at her shop; today was a big day for the both of them. They were going to see Dr. Cook and he was going to tell them if Krystal was the match that Krista needed. He was pretty sure she was, but needed to run a blood test just to be sure. Identical twins rarely were turned down for bone marrow transplants.

Upon arrival at County General the girls got out of Tom's car. "Kris, you know when you have the transplant AJ's not going to let you have it here. You're on his insurance, as well as the twins, and he will insist it be done at Bethesda. You have to admit that this hospital isn't up on the newest procedures as Bethesda."

"I know, but I've been seeing Dr. Cook since this first started and really hate to change doctor's in mid-stream" Krista sighed. "Do you think he would be allowed to practice at Bethesda?"

"I don't know, but it's something to check out," Krystal replied going into Dr. Cook's office. "We're here to see Dr. Cook. The names are Krista Chegwidden, and Krystal Boone."

Sitting down in the waiting room, the girls didn't have long to wait when a nurse came in to take them back to an exam room. He was waiting for them as they walked inside. "Good morning ladies, goodness you are identical! If Krista weren't pregnant, I would never be able to tell you apart! If you don't mind, we'll get started right away and I'll have my nurse draw blood while we talk," he smiled taking a seat.

"That'll be no problem, sir," Krystal held out her arm and the nurse filled a couple of vials full of blood before leaving the room.

"Now, I'm going to explain what happens to get the body ready for the transplant while we wait for the results. If you don't mind let me finish, then, ask all the questions you'd like," he smiled looking at both girls waiting for the to acknowledge that they understood. He was a busy man and need to get to other transplant patients and while he would answer questions he preferred to get all the information out to the patient before they began the question and answer session.

Krista and Krystal looked at each other and back at him and nodded that they understood.

"Alright, here is what will happen. During the transplant there will be some loss of bone marrow and stem cells so we need to build up the supply in both of you. What that requires is that you come in each week and receive an injection of Filgrastim. This injection will increase the number of stem cells released into the bone marrow. They will cause bone and muscle pain along with fatigue. Severe headaches accompany these shots. These affects should last for several days."

"Could we have them on Fridays, and the worst of the effects would be over by Monday?" Krista asked thinking that the less time they would both have to be off work the better it would be for them.

"Yes, that would work out fine and most of my patients do choose that as an option. That's really all you need to know for now, until we actually get the results of the blood test back, the odds of a match are quite good." Just then the door opened and the nurse came in with the results and handed them to Dr. Cook. Reading them over carefully while Krystal and Krista sat quietly on pin and needles, he looked up and smiled, "Ladies, it looks like a go, we have a perfect match!"

To be continued…